The World Economic Forum’s Global Social Mobility Index and How We Can Respond

Read the Report by The World Economic Forum

Data informs action. At least that’s what the students supporting Kiva.org borrowers believe. We are working toward increasing financial inclusion and access to opportunity by funding loans to the people who have the least social mobility. Learn more about how you can help by reading the Report by The World Economic Forum and how countries rank in The World Economic Forum’s Global Social Mobility Index.  This report delivers a new, holistic assessment of 82 global economies according to their performance on five key dimensions of social mobility distributed over 10 pillars: 1. Health; 2. Education (access, quality and equity, lifelong learning); 3. Technology; 4. Work (opportunities, wages, conditions); 5. Protection and Institutions (social protection and inclusive institutions).

The United States ranks #27 in social mobility for its citizens. That ranking is the reason why we will continue to explore and implement ways to help educate people about how to become entrepreneurs, access funding, mentoring, and self-sufficiency by advocacy and raising funds for loans.

The Report highlights that economies with greater social mobility give more equally shared opportunities irrespective of socio-economic background, geographic location, gender or origin. There is a direct and linear relationship between a country’s income inequality and its social mobility score on the index. These findings show that social mobility entrenches historical inequalities and higher income inequalities fuel lower social mobility. Missions like Kiva’s can seek to enhance social mobility and convert this cruel cycle into a virtuous circle to imbue positive benefits on broader economic growth.

Read more viewpoints on LinkedIn on what the Index means and how people are responding. Please share your thoughts and ideas with our team and consider joining our efforts. Thank you.